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LOENZA HOWARD: 



OF NORTH BRIDGSWATER, MASS. 



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^ WHtten for the Massachusetts Sabbath School Society^ and 
approved by the Committee of Publication, 



4 -^ » » ► 



BOSTON: 

MASSACHUSETTS SABBATH SCHOOL SOCIETY, 
Depository, No, 13 ComhiU. 



1' 



M E M I E 



F 



LOENZA HOWAUD: 



„*»«» 



OF NORTH BRIDGEWATER, MASS. 



By Rev. DANIEI^ HUNTINGTON. 



Prepared for the Massachusetts Sabbath School Society, and 
approved by the Committee of PMicatioiu 



< ^ » ^ ► 



^ B S T k<: ^^~ 

MASSACHUSETTS SABBATH SCHOOL SOCIETY, 
Depository, No. 13 Comliill. 

1850. 






Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1850, 

By CHRISTOPHER C. DEAN, 
in the Clerk's Office of the District Court of Massachusetts. 

WELL-SPRING PRESS,^^A. J. WRIGHT, PRINTER. 



^ 



MEMOIR OP 



LOENZA HOWARD. 



■■^ •♦ » » >•- 



In preserving some ^'pleasant memo- 
ries" of this interesting young woman 
the writer is influenced, he trusts, not 
by the desire to soothe the grief of 
the bereaved parents and family, by 
exhibiting the worth of the treasure 
which they possessed. A poet has 
truly said : — 

"There is a tear, 
Which, streaming for an object loved and lost, 
Relieves us, while its sweet oppression loads; 
And, by augmenting, Hunts the sting of woe." 

But the ''strong consolation" of God's 
children, when called to resign the ob- 
jects of their fond afi'ection, is found in 



4 MEMOIR OF LOENZA HOWARD. 

the contemplation of His immutable per- 
fection, and of the relation which he 
sustains to them as a covenant-keeping 
God, who, though he cause grief, yet 
will have compassion, according to the 
multitude of his tender mercies; who 
takes but what he gave, and afflicts his 
people, not for his pleasure, but for their 
profit, and to make them partakers of 
his holiness. Yet sweet indeed to Christ- 
ian parents, when called to lay the 
remains of a beloved child beneath the 
clods of the valley, is the thought that, 
while their natural affection is thwarted, 
their better desires are fulfilled ; that 
their heart's treasure is ''not lost, but 
laid up," to be received again at length 
as a part of that inheritance which is 
reserved in heaven for those who are 
kept by the power of God through faith 
unto salvation. It is to encourage those, 
to whom the nurture and admonition of 
young immortals is entrusted, to sow the 



MEMOIR OF LOENZA HOWARD. 5 

seed of divine truth early and constantly 
in their opening minds, waiting patiently 
and prayerfully for the effective blessing 
of the Holy Spirit on their labors ; and to 
remind those who are favored with such 
early instruction, of their advantages and 
obligations, that this simple memoir is 
written. The subject of it was removed 
from this world, just as the distinguish- 
ing traits of her character had begun to 
develope themselves in a decisive man- 
ner, and to intimate what she would 
have been, had she been spared to act 
out her principles amid the scenes of 
maturer life. Her piety was the piety 
of childhood, or at most, of early youth. 
Yet, though her earthly life was short, 
and not distinguished by any of those re- 
markable incidents or vicissitudes, which 
afford opportunity for the most striking 
exhibition of character, and which give 
such peculiar interest to some biogra- 
phies, she was enabled at least to illus- 
1* 



6 MEMOIR OF LOENZA HOWARD. 

trate the efficacy of Gospel truth, as 
God's appointed means for subduing and 
purifying our fallen nature, in a manner 
honorable to Him and encouraging to his 
people. 

LoENZA, daughter of Mr. Lewis and 
Mrs. Eliza Howard, was born at North 
Bridgewater, Plymouth County, Massa- 
chusetts, October 30th, 1831. From her 
earliest childhood she evinced an ami- 
able and affectionate disposition, which 
strengthened as she grew older. Many 
hours, which she might have spent in 
play, had she been so inclined, were de- 
voted by her to little acts of kindness to 
her parents. Self-denial, for the pleasure 
and benefit of those about her, seemed 
a luxury. When she was presented with 
confectionery, or any thing which would 
admit of division, her brothers and sisters 
were sure to share largely; a small por- 
tion only, if any, being reserved for her- 
self. A little incident which occurred 



MEMOIR OF LOENZA HOWARD. 7 

when she was eight or ten years of age, 
may serve to illustrate this trait of her 
character. That season there was an 
unusual scarcity of apples; consequently 
they were not often given her, but occa- 
sionally she Avould be favored with one, 
which, as she was very fond of them, 
she considered a prize. There was one 
child to whom she almost invariably 
gave one half. One day, when that ob- 
ject of her generosity had an apple, and 
she had none, she solicited a small por- 
tion of it — a ^' taste," to use her own ex- 
pression — and was refused. This, among 
children in general, would be nothing 
remarkable, but to Loenza it was a real 
affliction; not that she cared much for 
the trifle withheld from her; she could 
easily do without the apple, but the love 
which would have given it she could 
not resign without a pang. Her mother 
observed her sorrowful aspect, and in- 
quired the cause. With her customary 



8 MEMOIR OF LOENZA HOWARD. 

frankness she related the circumstance 



and acknowledged the pain it had given 
her; but disclaimed any feeling of resent- 
ment, and added, showing at once, the 
unselfish nature and salutary effect of 
her sorrow, ^'Mother, when I have an- 
other apple, I will give her half again." 

When any little broils occurred among 
the younger children of the family, she 
was sure to act as peace-maker, gently 
soothing their rufiied feelings, and restor- 
ing them to quietness and good humor. 

About this period of her life she be- 
came a member of the Sabbath school 
connected with the first Congregational 
church in North Bridgewater, under the 
pastoral care of the Rev. Mr. Couch, to 
which her parents belonged. She would 
probably have joined the school much 
earlier, but for the distance from the 
house of worship at which she resided, 
which rendered a regular attendance 
difiicult. Prepared by early religious 



MEMOIR OF LOENZA HOWARD. 9 

instruction at home, she highly vahied 
and dihgently improved the privileges of 
the Sabbath school and the teachings of 
the pulpit. The good seed of the word, 
whether sown by the hand of a parent, 
a pastor, or a Sunday school teacher, 
''fell in a fruitful place." She made it 
a point of duty to be familiar with her 
lesson; and it was to her no irksome 
task. She loved to learn, and grudged 
not the labor which mental improvement 
required. Indeed, she manifested an 
ardent desire to learn, even before she 
could speak plainly. She knew the al- 
phabet well before she had completed 
her second year ; and that not in conse- 
quence of being urged or allured to the 
acquisition of it, but from her own spon- 
taneous desire of knowledge. She would 
get a book, and ask the name of this 
and that letter, and not willingly rest 
until she had ascertained it. The fruit 
of these early eifforts, however, she lost 



10 MEMOIR OF LOENZA HOWARD. 

at the age of two years, when she 
was dangerously sick. 

On recovering from this distressing 
malady, after a confinement of twelve 
weeks to her bed, she had forgotten all 
she had previously learned. By renewed 
diligence, however, the loss was soon 
repaired, and her progress from that 
time was steady. She delighted in 
reading, preferring it to those amuse- 
ments in which children of that age are 
generally most interested. The Bible 
especially engaged her attention ; and 
from the period when she became capa- 
ble of reading understandingly, to the 
close of her life, it was her daily com- 
panion. She greatly enjoyed preparation 
for the exercises of the Sabbath school, 
and it was a sore trial if any thing pre- 
vented her being constantly in her class. 
She felt a strong attachment to her 
teachers, and was grieved when any one 
of them was called to resign her charge, 



MEMOIR OF LOENZA HOWARD. 11 

as was the case in several instances, on 
account of a change of residence. She 
never lost her interest in them, but held 
them in affectionate remembrance while 
she lived. One of her last acts, before 
she was laid on a dying bed, was to 
fold and direct a paper, by way of re- 
membrancer, to one who had for several 
years sustained that endearing relation 
to her. An endearing relation it is truly, 
when maintained in Christian fidelity ; 
and sweet must be the recollections of 
those, who have thus cooperated with 
pious parents and faithful pastors, in 
feeding the lambs of the Redeemer's 
flock; or who have gathered those that 
' were scattered abroad, as sheep having 
no shepherd, and led them into the 
green pastures and by the still waters of 
peace and salvation. One of the teach- 
ers referred to above, being desired to 
give her testimony concerning this de- 
parted pupil, writes as follows: ^'She 



12 MEMOIR OF LOENZA HOWARD. 

was a member of my class, (if I mistake 
notj) from her first connection with the 
school, till I left it, which was about 
five years before her death. She was, 
from the first, attentive and serious; her 
lessons were thoroughly prepared ; I rec- 
ollect not an exception. I do not re- 
member seeing her in her class, (as I 
have seen many much older than she 
was,) with open question-book and Bi- 
ble, in order to search out references 
that it might be her lot to repeat. Her 
recitations evinced careful study, such as 
would do credit to those \\4iose years 
trebled her's. Her mother said to me 
since her death, ' I never had to tell 
Loenza to get her Sabbath school lesson ; 
she was ever ready to attend to it in 
season, and also to aid her brothers and 
sister in their preparation.' Being natu- 
rally of a reserved temperament, she 
was not easily drawn into very familiar 
conversation, relative to her religious 



MEMOIR OF LOENZA HOWARD. 13 

feelings. She seemed fearful lest she 
should express more than she really felt. 
But when I spoke of a Saviour's love 
in sujffering for our sins, and our in grat- 
itude and folly in refusing to accept of 
salvation purchased at so dear a rate, 
her moistened eye and quivering lip 
spoke with more convincing eloquence, 
than her tongue, (unaccompanied by 
such tokens of feeling,) could have done. 
When interrogated as to her feelings, she 
would acknowledge that she felt herself 
a sinner justly condemned, and exposed 
to the displeasure of God; seemed sensi- 
ble of her need of just such a Saviour 
as had been graciously provided. She 
never intimated to me^ however, that she 
had any reason to hope she was num- 
bered among the lambs of his flock, but 
would express the wish that she might 
be. I think she gave Miss E. P. the 
impression that she indulged hope of her- 
self as a Christian : but had she never 



14 MEMOIR OF LOENZA HOWARD. 

intimated to any one the hope that she 
had experienced the renewing and sanc- 
tifying influence of the Holy Spirit, / 
should believe that she gave evidence 
amply sufficient to justify the hope, yea, 
the assurance^ that she endeavored to 
serve her Saviour here, the last years of 
her short life ; and that she is now en- 
gaged in celebrating the praises of Him, 
who by his Spirit enabled her to resist 
the alluring vanities and temptations in- 
cident to childhood and youth, and to 
seek those more satisfying and enduring 
pleasures, of which even death had not 
power to rob her. What but the love of 
prayer, and the conviction of its efficacy, 
could have induced a child, ten or 
twelve years of age, (especially of her 
reserved turn of mind,) to retire with 
several brothers and sisters, for the pur- 
pose of imploring the blessing of her 
Heavenly Father upon them? 

Perhaps it would not be amiss to 



MEMOIR OF LOENZA HOWARD. 15 

mention something in relation to her 
character as a week-day scholar, she 
having been eighteen weeks a member 
of my school. Trifles had not power to 
prevent her attendance. I have no rec- 
ollection of one solitary misdemeanor, or 
imperfect recitation. She aimed at entire 
propriety of conduct, and her efforts 
were rem>arkahly successful. Whatever 
the requisition, cheerfulness characterized 
her obedience. By her untiring diligence 
she left most of those of her own age 
far in the rear, and even surpassed many 
who had been in the field much longer 
than herself. But I saw nothing of the 
triumphant sneer cast back upon those 
left behind, but, on the contrary, the 
helping hand was with pleasure ex- 
tended. She was far removed from the 
rudeness, and even hilarity, to which 
those of her age are often unduly addict- 
ed. I have even thought that a greater 
flow of mirthfulness would have given a 



16 MEMOIR OP LOENZA HOWARD. 

more healthy tone to mind and body. 
She was cheerful, bat sedate beyond her 
years. Instead of seeking her pleasure 
in childish amusements, she sought it in 
the discharge of what she considered her 
duty to her teacher, her schoolmates, 
and herself. I love to review my inter- 
course with the dear departed child, and 
live over again, in imagination, those 
pleasant seasons, in which I was cheered 
and strengthened by her amiable and 
exemplary deportment. The teacher's 
employment would be rendered doubly 
delightful, were all pupils disposed to 
follow her bright example." 

Another writes thus: ^'I had been 
the teacher of the class, of which (when 
at home) she was a member, about three 
years at the time of her death; and 
ever found her a constant attendant, 
when circumstances or health would per- 
mit, and one who gave her undivided 
attention to the subject of the recitation. 



MEMOIR OF LOENZA HOWARD. 17 

The subject of personal religion was 
often introduced, but being of retiring 
manners, she was not so accessible in 
conversation as many others; yet I was 
led to beheve that she had sought and 
obtained an interest in the great salva- 
tion purchased for us by our dear Re- 
deemer. In our weekly collections in 
the Sabbath school, she manifested a 
deep interest, and by her example seemed 
to say that she thought it 'more blessed 
to give than to receive.' I saw her dur- 
ing her sickness, but she was unable 
to converse at all ; but I have ever felt 
that she was prepared for the change 
which awaited her. She was very ami- 
able in her disposition, and I had be- 
come much attached to her; and was 
very happy to hear that you had under- 
taken to write a memoir of her life." 

It was not until she had passed her 
eighth year, that her parents became 
convinced she was under the strivings 

2* 



18 MEMOIR OF LOENZA HOWARD, 

of the Spirit. It was a season of revival 
in the church and society. Many 
around her were brought to the knowl- 
edge of the truth. She became much 
interested. Her mind was deeply and 
painfully impressed with a sense of guilt 
and danger. Grief and anxiety ^^held 
her eyes waking,'' and at length over- 
powered her natural reserve. With a 
trembling voice she called her mother, 
at midnight^ to her bedside. The sum- 
mons was promptly obeyed, and, on 
being tenderly asked what was the 
cause of her disquietude, she answered, 
'^ Mother, I feel that I am so great a 
sinner that I cannot sleep ; I wish you 
to pray for me." Such a request, ad- 
dressed to one whose spirit was even 
then ^^ travailing in birth again" for the 
salvation of her beloved child, met, 
without doubt, a ready and earnest 
compliance. The prayer thus offered 
seemed to prevail. Her mind appeared 



MEMOIR OF LOENZA HOWARD. 19 

more composed ; and though no sud- 
den and surprising revolution of feehng 
was manifested, it is hoped that, even 
at that midnight hour, '' the day was 
daAvning, and the day-star arising," in 
that youthful heart. The throne of 
grace, which she was then aided to 
approach, was ever after her constant 
refuge ; and she was known to retire 
daily, at stated seasons, for secret com- 
munion with Him who had thus ^^ en- 
larged her when she was in distress." 
From that period she became more 
deeply interested in every thing of a 
religious nature, and more decidedly 
averse to frivolous amusement and con- 
versation. She manifested an increased 
attachment to her Bible, and preferred 
the society of Christians to that of her 
light-hearted and gay companions. She 
was particularly interested in reading 
memoirs of pious children ; and es- 
pecially one of a little girl, (the name 



20 MEMOIR OF LOENZA HOWARD. 

is not now remembered,) out of whose 
mouth the Lord had ordained praise, 
and whose favorite hymn Loenza often 
repeated as an expression of her own 
feeUngs. So frequently did she repeat 
it, that it became almost as familiar to 
her mother as to herself. The whole 
cannot now be recalled ; but the two 
following verses were part of it, and 
from these my young readers, who are 
familiar with the Sabbath School Li- 
brary, may recognize the book referred 
to: — 

" Come, Holy Ghost, my sonl inspire : 
This one great gift impart, — 
What most I need, what most desire, — 
A humble, grateful heart. 

" Grant that I more myself may know — 
From sin's deceit be free ; 
In all the Christian graces grow, 
And live alone to Thee.'* 

Such, we believe, were truly her pre- 
vailing desires. Dear young reader, are 
they yours 7 Search and see ; for the 



MEMOIK OF LOENZA HOWARD. 21 

day is coming when you will need the 
consolation and support of religion as 
much as she ; and God's gracious 
promises are addressed only to those 
who seek him — especially to those who 
seek him early. 

As she grew older, she was much 
interested in reading the lives of emi- 
nent Christians, such as Brainerd, Pay- 
son, James B. Taylor, and others 
which are found in the '^ Evangelical 
Family Library ;'' most of the volumes 
of which she read and re-read. She 
loved to peruse Pike's '^ Persuasives to 
Early Piety," and " Guide for Young 
Disciples." ^' Daily Food for Christ- 
ians," which was presented to her, she 
valued very highly. It was her pocket 
companion at home and abroad. It 
was brought, by her request, to her 
bed of sickness, and when she found 
herself unable to read it, her Mother, 
at her desire, read it to her, until the 



22 MEMOIR OF LOENZA HOWARD. 

increasing power of her disease forbade 
further communications of this kind. 

She was frequently solicited, while 
in health and attending school in her 
native town, to mingle in scenes of 
youthful gayety with her companions. 
Their ^' parties of pleasure ^' had little 
attraction for her. Yet, that she might 
not seem ungrateful for kindness in- 
tended, she accepted an invitation to 
one of them. On her return from it, 
being asked how she had enjoyed herself, 
she replied, '^ Not half so well as I 
should at home with my parents." — 
She was induced, however, to attend a 
second. When she left home, her 
mother requested her to return by a 
certain hour. The hour passed, but she 
did not return. Nearly an hour 
elapsed beyond the appointed time before 
she arrived. She stated the reason for 
her seeming disregard of her parent's 
request, which showed clearly that the 



MEMOIR OF LOEXZA HOWARD. 23 

fault was not hers ; — she intended and 
endeavored to be at home as directed. 
Her parents were satisfied, and freely 
acquitted her of willful disobedience. — 
They retired to rest ; but the thought 
thatj after all her apologies, she might 
seem undutiful, and thus grieve the 
hearts most dear to her, was like a 
thorn in Loenza's pillow. About eleven 
o'clock her parents were awakened by 
her at their bed-side, craving their for- 
giveness, saying, '^ I cannot sleep till 
you forgive me ! " 

Having obtained her object, she again 
sought her pillow ; and it is probable 
that, in the darkness of night, upon 
her bed, or perhaps upon her knees 
before her Saviour, she resolved never 
again to seek pleasure where she knew 
it was not to be found. She ever after 
manifested a determination to seek her 
enjoyments in those pursuits which 
would ensure pleasures substantial and 



24 MEMOIR OF LOENZA HOWARD. 

enduring, and by which she would be 
made wiser and better. She often ex- 
pressed the fervent desire that her 
young friends would seek for more en- 
nobhng gratifications. One of them 
called to see her a few days before her 
death, and, perhaps with a view to 
divert her, or for want of other topics, 
said she was engaged to a ^' party " 
that evening, and asked L. if she did 
not wish she was able to attend. — 
''No!" was her decisive reply; ''and 
I wish you would not go." When her 
friend had retired, she was asked why 
she did not say more to her on the 
subject. She answered, " If I get well, 
I intend to." But alas ! she was not 
to have another opportunity to call her 
young companion away from those 
broken cisterns which can hold no 
water, to that inexhaustible Fountain 
which alone can quench the thirst of 
an immortal mind. Should the eye of 



MEMOIR OF LOENZA HOWARD. 25 

that young friend chance to hght on 
this page, may she yet derive perma- 
nent benefit from the remembrance of 
that brief but instructive interview ; — 
and hear her departed associate address- 
ing to her, from the grave, that affec- 
tionate counsel which she wanted 
strength to utter on her bed of sick- 
ness. 

The testimony of her teachers in the 
Sabbath and District schools, to the 
character which she maintained in both, 
has been given. At a subsequent peri- 
od she became a member of the ^'Adel- 
phian Academy " in her native town, 
from which, in the Spring of 1846, she 
was transferred to the ^'Wheaton Fe- 
male Seminary " in Norton. By the 
teachers and members of both these in- 
stitutions she was highly esteemed, as 
appears from letters of condolence^ ad- 
dressed by them to her parents, after 
her decease. 



26 MEMOIR OF LOENZA HOWARD. 

She evidently carried to those higher 
schools the same principles of conduct, 
and the same habits of propriety and 
diligence, which had secured so much 
of the love and confidence of those 
about her in earlier life. The com- 
positions which she wrote, and the 
notes which she took of public dis- 
courses heard, during her connection 
with the Wheaton Seminary, evince 
the constancy and success of her en- 
deavors to cultivate at once her intel- 
lectual powers and her Christian graces. 
Had her life been prolonged, she might 
have completed the regular course of 
instruction given in that excellent insti- 
tution, and left it, at length, for some 
elevated sphere of usefulness to the 
cause of her Redeemer. But He had 
other designs concerning her. Toward 
the middle of October she was attacked 
by a fever, which interrupted her 
studies, and soon assumed so threaten- 



MEMOIR OF LOENZA HOWARD. 27 

ing an appearance, that her parents 
were sent for, and it was deemed ad- 
visable that they should take her home. 
They did so ; and all the efforts which 
parental love and solicitude could 
prompt, or professional skill direct, were 
made to resist the progress of the fatal 
malady. But all in vain. She reached 
her father's house on the 16th of Oc- 
tober, and on the 28th of the same 
month her spirit returned to God, who 
gave it. Had she continued two days 
more in this world, she would have 
completed her fifteenth year. The day 
of her funeral was the anniversary of 
her birth. What a celebration of it ! — 
What an instructive and affecting coinci- 
dence ! — what an epoch in the history 
of the family has that day become ! 

The nature and violence of her dis- 
ease allowed little opportunity for con- 
versation concerning her preparation for 
her final change. She expressed, how- 

/ 



28 MEMOIR OF LOENZA HOWARD. 

ever, with characteristic humihty and 
self-diffidence, her hope in her Heavenly- 
Father's mercy, and her submission to 
his sovereign will. She was ever dis- 
posed to a low estimate of her own 
attainments. Sensible of her deficiencies, 
and adopting the high standard of 
Christian character established in the 
Bible, she dared not speak confidently 
of her own religious state ; but while 
she appeared evidently to rejoice in the 
service of her Lord and Saviour, she 
^' served him with fear, and rejoiced with 
trembling.'' Her fears and doubts, we 
trust, Avere soon banished forever ; and 
He, whom having not seen, she loved, 
has cleansed her from all the moral 
defilement which she loathed, and pre- 
sented her faultless before the presence 
of his glory with exceeding joy. 

The following beautiful tribute to her 
memory is from an address to her 
schoolmates in Norton, by a senior 



MEMOIR OF LOENZA HOWARD. 29 

member and assistant teacher of the 
Seminary : 

" The sweetness of her disposition — 
the amiabiUty of her temper, won the 
love and affection of all her com- 
panions. She ever yielded to the su- 
perior advice of those about her with- 
out hesitation or reluctance : and never 
did a mother's heart bleed because of 
the wounds that daughter's unkindness 
had made, or a tear flow because of a 
bitter word from her mouth. The path 
of wisdom was a ^ path of pleasant- 
ness ' to her. She gathered eagerly the 
fruits of knowledge that were spread 
out before her on every side, and treas- 
ured them carefully in the store-house 
of her memory. To her, study was 
no weary task, but a labor of delight. 
Each day bore a record of her faith- 
fulness and diligence, and each recita- 
tion found her prepared. She suffered 
no slight cause to divert her mind, or 

3* 



30 MEMOIR OF LOENZA HOWARD. 

turn her steps ; but each morning found 
her in her seat : and even when her 
head was throbbing with pain, and her 
cheek glowed with the hectic flush of 
that fatal disease, she was still there. 
Truly may we say, — 

* A bright lamp hath gone out.' 

But her life 

* Hath left surviving love — 
A wealth of records and sweet feelings given/ 

to remove from sorrow's heart its faint- 
ness, and cheer the mourning ones. — 
We may not mourn for her ; for they 
that have loved an exile, must not 
weep that he has gone to his native 
land. We may rejoice that she was 
so soon called home. She may now 
drink deep of the waters of life, and 
quench her thirst for wisdom in the 
streams that flow from the fountain in 
heaven. She is wearing the crown of 
glory, and singing the songs of angels. 
Is there a crown of glory laid up for 



MEMOIR OF LOENZA HOAYAHD. 31 

US ? — and are ojir hearts and voices 
tuned to join in such melodies? While 
we cherish her memory, and think of 
her as a dweller in a happier clime, 
let us be ready^ if the destroying angel 
meet us in our youth, for 

*A11 seasons are ours to die.'" 

On the day of Loenza's interment, 
while the teachers and members of the 
^* Adelphian Academy" were assembled 
at the house of mourning to unite with 
many others in the funeral solemnities, 
the Principal of the Wheaton Seminary 
wrote thus to her parents : — 

^ Dear Friends, — Though personally 
unacquainted with you, yet I cannot 
but yield to the promptings of my 
heart, and express to you, as parents 
of my deceased pupil, my heartfelt 
sympathy and sorrow in your sudden 
bereavement. In your affliction I do 
most painfully share. Your beloved 



32 MEMOIR OF LOENZA HOWARD. 

daughter was a lovely member of our 
school ; and while with us, her gentle 
deportment, faithfulness in the discharge 
of duty, and apparent prevaihng desire 
to please and gratify her teachers, won 
their affections and esteem. We feel 
ourselves deeply afflicted in her death, 
and our hearts are called to mourn. — 
We know, from our short but pleasant 
acquaintance with her, that a very ten- 
der tie has been sundered — that the 
light in your domestic circle is dimmed, 
and that your hearts are left bleeding 
and desolate. But there is light in this 
darkness — joy in your sorrow. As the 
Christian's hope was hers, your irrepar- 
able loss is her infinite gain. Let this 
cheer you in your darkness and deso- 
lation. 

'^ The chastisement is grievous, and 
the providence inscrutable : but if your 
faith and hope rest upon a Heavenly 
Father's promises, you will feel that 



MEMOIR OF LOENZA HOWARD. 33 

^ He doelh all things well,' and does not 
willingly afflict and grieve his children. 
Accept my deep sympathy in this dark 
hour. That God would bring consola- 
tion to your riven hearts, is the earnest 

prayer of 

^^ Yours sincerely, 

^'M. C. S." 

The following tribute to Loenza's 
memory was addressed to her mourning 
parents by a Christian friend, who well 
knew her. Though not intended for 
publication, its truth and appropriateness 
will, I trust, induce the much esteemed 
writer to pardon the liberty I have 
taken in placing it here without her 
permission : — 

"TO THE PARENTS OF LOENZA HOWARD. 

" Sweet peace have they whose trust is in the Lord; 
Who leave themselves, their all, in his safe care — 
With firm reliance on his plighted word, 
That they who trust Him shall his kindness share. 

" Think not, my friends, though gathering tempests lower — 
Though clouds and darkness vail your noonday sky, 
That you are not the subjects of his power, 
Or that compassion beams not from his eye. 



84 MEMOIR OF LOENZA HOWARD. 

" 'Tis true, your wound is deep; for she you mourn 
Was lovely as a fair, a blooming rose : 
The virtues which, retiring^ most adorn, 
Failed not their early promise to disclose. 

" An elder sister — kindness was the rule 

By which she sought to guide, or to restrain; 
And love's deep promptings the entire control 
Her imaspiring heart had wish to gain. 

" A daughter dear — with what untiring care 
She strove your every precept to obey ; 
Your gi'iefs to solace, and yoiu' toils to share — 
Your pleasures heighten, and your pains allay. 

" Nor yet alone does the domestic hearth 

Grieve for the loss of one in life so dear : 
Her many friends lament her early death, 
And drop with you the sympathetic tear. 

" But though you mourn, yet you may still rejoice ; 
For many mercies mingle in that cup. 
Since you may think the Saviour was her choice. 
Her friend, her portion, and her only Hope; — 

" That He, who early marked her for his own, 
By his own Spirit moving on her heart, 
Led her to seek the pearl of price unknown — 
To choose, in life's gay morn, the better part. 

" If so — transplanted to a brighter sphere — 

Her voice all melody — ^lier heart all praise — 
Escaped all sin, all sorrow and all fear — 

High sound her notes in more than angel's lays, — 

*' Let us not call her from her blest employ ; 

But, with more fervent zeal, ourselves prepare, 
That we — our work well done — ^may hail with joy 
The call to leave this earth, and join her there. 

S*=***. 



MEMOIR OF LOENZA HOWARD. 35 

The closing lines of this consoling 
epistle might well serve as the con- 
clusion of this brief memoir. I shall 
not detain the reader by any prolonged 
reflections of my own. The simple 
facts in Loenza's history are full of en- 
couragement to parents, pastors. Sabbath 
school teachers, and all, in short, who 
labor for the spiritual benefit of the 
rising generation. Their language is, 
" In the morning sow thy seed, and in 
the evening withhold not thy hand." 
To the young they distinctly and em- 
phatically say, '' Remember now thy 
Creator in the days of thy youth, 
while the evil days come not, nor the 
years draw nigh, when thou shalt say, 
I have no pleasure in them." '' Fear 
God and keep his commandments, for 
this is the whole duty of man : for God 
shall bring every work into judgment, 
with every secret thing, whether it be 
good or whether it be evil." These 



S;6 MEMOIR OF LOENZA HOWARD. 

texts are found, among others, in a 
little manuscriptj in which Loenza re- 
corded the '^ verses she learned at the 
school of Miss S. Field.'' 

Between the leaves of that little 
book, she left also the following appro- 
priate and beautiful lines, cut from 
some printed sheet, which may be re- 
garded as her own dying testimony to 
the preciousness of Divine Truth. May 
it be verified in the experience of all 
my youthful readers. 

"THE BIBLE. 

" Thou truest friend man ever knew, 
Thy constancy I've tried; 
When all were false, I've found thee true — 
My counselor and guide. 

" The mines of earth no treasure give. 
That could this volume buy ; 
In teaching me the way to live, 
It taught me how to die." 



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